The one-word review: Disturbing. Sixty-seven percent. If you're familiar with Tim Burton’s adaptation of Alice in Wonderland, you likely recognize Mia Wasikowska; however, you might not be aware of her other roles. She has appeared in nearly thirty films, but hasn't always played the lead character. She is best known for portraying Alice, Jane Eyre, and now India in Chan-Woo Park’s thriller, Stoker. Be warned that this film may prove unpleasant for many viewers. Following her father’s death in a car accident, India Stoker finds herself dealing with the unexpected arrival of her Uncle Charlie, whom she never knew existed, who moves in with her and her emotionally distant mother. Charlie is persuasive and seems to quickly win over India's mother—perhaps too easily. His charm leads India to suspect something sinister is at play, prompting her investigation into the truth. Instead of a traditional hero exposing wrongdoing, India increasingly aligns herself with her uncle, behaving in ways that are hard to accept. From the start, the film establishes a deeply unsettling atmosphere. There’s an eerie uncle and a young woman who seems destined to become dangerously unstable. Whether she does or not is something I won't reveal, but both characters are intensely creepy, which leads you to realize there isn't really a protagonist in this story. It’s hard to invest in anyone when the reasons for doing so aren't clear; while stories can function with just one central character, an antagonist alone doesn’t work well. This film becomes more of a descent into darkness than a coming-of-age story. Although not explicitly stated, there are undertones of incest that contribute to the film's disturbing nature. The writing feels overwhelming at times, and overall, it struggles with believability unless you imagine a particularly extreme episode of Jerry Springer. What worked well was the creation of mystery and the visual presentation. The central mystery is what holds the movie together. No matter how disturbed you are, you’ll want to see how things end—a powerful tool for any film. While it deviates from standard Hollywood storytelling conventions, at least the mystery itself is handled effectively. The visuals are stunning; it's not a fantasy or 3D film, but it achieves a remarkable beauty in a realistic way, showcasing the world’s existing beauty rather than inventing something new. This enhances the movie and provides another reason to keep watching. Ultimately, Stoker is too disturbing for repeat viewings, and lacks a character to root for, but boasts strong performances, striking visuals, and an intriguing mystery that will hold your attention. Some may find it a guilty pleasure, while others might be repelled by its unpleasantness—it’s really a matter of personal taste. Stoker is available on DVD and Blu-Ray starting Jun. 18.

Source on TMDB